California Shooting: 77-Year-Old Couple Arrested After Son-in-Law Found Shot Dead

A man was found shot dead in a California sports-ground car park after police responded to reports of gunfire, with his parents-in-law, a couple in their late 70s, arrested nearby on suspicion of murder.

Jonathan McKinsey, 40, of Dublin, California, was found with multiple gunshot wounds at the Dublin Sports Grounds on Saturday afternoon, 26 September, according to Dublin Police Services and the City of Dublin. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police identified the suspects as Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, a married couple from Dublin who were McKinsey's parents-in-law. Both were arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Santa Rita Jail.

Man Found Shot at Dublin Sports Grounds

A Dublin Police Services sergeant was driving near the Dublin Sports Grounds, located at 6700 Dublin Blvd., at about 3:08pm when he saw a man lying on the ground in the parking lot, according to the City of Dublin.

The sergeant stopped to investigate as multiple 911 calls reporting the incident began reaching dispatch. Additional police officers and emergency medical personnel responded. Officers found McKinsey in the middle of the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police, assisted by witnesses, located and detained two suspects who had remained nearby within minutes, according to Dublin officials.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a local resident, Assad Razawi, said he heard five or six gunshots while he was out buying groceries. Razawi said he then saw a man fall to the ground in the parking lot.

Parents-In-Law Arrested

The City of Dublin said Zhang and Chen were arrested on suspicion of PC 187, murder, and booked into Santa Rita Jail. The city identified both as 77-year-olds, while the San Francisco Chronicle described them as 76-year-olds.

According to jail records, both suspects were also facing a child abuse charge. Chen was additionally charged with conspiracy to fraudulently obtain money.

The suspects were being held without the possibility of bail. An arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday morning. Dublin Police Services said there were no outstanding suspects and no known threat to public safety.

Previous Child Abuse Case

Court records show prosecutors charged McKinsey last year with two counts of misdemeanour child abuse. According to a probable cause declaration, a woman told Dublin police that McKinsey had struck her six-year-old son in the face with an open hand. The woman also told investigators about a prior domestic violence incident in 2018, during which she said McKinsey had grabbed her left arm, leaving a bruise.

The declaration stated that deputies later found a two-year-old child left unattended in an upstairs bedroom while McKinsey had gone shopping. McKinsey pleaded not guilty to both crimes and was released from jail on the condition that he enrol in and complete 12 parenting classes. It's unclear whether the previous case had any bearing on the shooting.

Investigation Remains Ongoing

Dublin Police Services said detectives are continuing to examine evidence to determine the circumstances that led to the homicide. The City of Dublin thanked witnesses and community members who assisted officers, saying their cooperation was critical to the swift arrest of the suspects.

Residents in the Courtyards at Dublin Ranch Villages where McKinsey lived expressed shock after learning about the killing. One neighbour said McKinsey had recently moved out of the home he shared with his wife and three children.

Police have asked anyone with information related to the investigation to contact Dublin Police Services Sgt Ahmad Mateen.